Growing usage of illegal online casinos, debt raises concerns in Japan

Because these gaming platforms are so easily accessible via smartphones and other devices, even in places where online casino gambling is prohibited, the number of Japanese users is increasing.

Experts emphasize the need for the central government to take decisive action to stop criminal activities because many websites are still accessible online even after payment agents who were arranging transactions between offshore casinos and Japanese players were arrested in September.

People may use their computers and smartphones to access online casino sites and play games like slot machines and baccarat. There have been reports of a substantial rise in the user base in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Penal Code forbids accessing and placing bets from Japan, even if these websites are hosted on servers outside of Japan and are headquartered in nations where gambling is legal.

Masakatsu Morii, a professor at Kobe University and cybersecurity expert, estimates that there are between one and two million Japanese gamers at online casinos; on certain sites, Japanese customers account for twenty to thirty percent of all users.

An ex-aichi prefecture internet casino addict shared his story, mentioning how he swiftly increased bet amounts to make up for losses and recalled making $1 million in a single day. He also noted that the online casino had no closing hours, unlike pachinko parlors.

The Society Concerned about Gambling Addiction’s representative director, Noriko Tanaka, reports that the number of requests for assistance from gambling addicts and their families has increased, rising from eight in 2019 to 52 in 2022. Callers had an average debt of nearly $8.3 million, significantly more than those with other forms of gambling addiction.

In September, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department and two other prefectural police departments arrested Japanese payment brokers who were receiving and sending money to online casinos abroad. Amidst the legal challenges in prosecuting offshore gambling companies under Japanese law, the agents were charged with encouraging compulsive gaming, an unprecedented move.

The alleged agents had ties to Sumo Pay, a payment method used by over 42,000 people in Japan that over a two-year period brought in $2.15 billion for casino operators. Although the deterrent effect of this police action is something to be hopeful about, there are concerns about websites that falsely portray online casinos as legitimate offshore businesses. Tanaka urged the national government to respond right away by limiting access to certain locations, for example.

Related Article About: Japan Illegal Gambling

Original story by: The Japan Times